Dishwasher construction



March 18, 1941. RUECKERT 2,235,386

' DISHWASHER CONSTRUCTION FilGd Feb. 15, 1940 INVENTOR WITNESSES:

Patented Mar. 18, .1941

UNITED STATES 2,235,386 msnwasnaa coNs'rnUcrroN Fred P. Bueckert, Mansfield, Ohio, asslgnor to Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, East Pittsburgh, Pa, a corporation of Pennsylvania Application February 15, 1940, Serial No. 319,064

8 Glaims.

My invention relates to washing machines an more particularly to dishwashers.

An object of my invention is to provide a dishwasher door drip-trough which is mounted wholly within the structure and which is adapted to receive any moisture which runs off the inner surface of the door as it is opened.

Another object of my invention is to provide a drip-trough for a dishwasher structure which is flexibly attached to said structure so as to be easily moved downward from its normal position to enable an operator to readily clean such trough.

A further object of my invention is to provide a dishwasher structure with a wholly enclosed 13 door drip-trough whereby such structure may have a substantially continuous flush front surface.

Other objects of my invention will either be pointed out specifically in the course of the folgg lowing description of a device embodying my invention, or will be apparent from such description.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view illustrating a washing machine embodying my invention; and

Figs. 2 and 3 are partial sectional views taken along the line IIII of Fig. 1, Fig. 2 illustrating the parts in their normal position and Fig. 3 in a partially disassembled position.

33 Referring to the accompanying drawing, in which like reference characters indicate like parts in the several figures, I show a dishwasher Ill having an inner structure l2, a hinged door Id, a drip-trough l6, and a removable front panel l8 5 disposed below and partially in front of the trough to so as to cover such trough.

The dishwasher structure It, shown in the accompanying drawing with respect to the parts other than the door and drip-trough and directly 40 associated parts, is merely illustrative and may be of any desired construction. However, it is understood that such structure includes an inner structure 12 comprising a tank 20, impeller 22, and a driving motor 24 therefor, as well as the 45 necessary supporting structure or base 26.

The hinged door H is biased to a closed position by means of a suitable resilient member 28 through the cooperation of a hinge bracket or arm 30, which is rigidly attached to the door id, say,

50 by spot welding or screws 3|. When fully opened, the door l4 occupies the customary substantially horizontal position. The door It is adapted to rotate about a hinge pin 33 which removably cooperates with the outer frame of such dishwasher.

55 The detailed arrangement and description of such hinge pin maybefound in a copending application of J. Reifenberg, Serial No. 284,150, filed July 13, 1939, assigned to the assignee of this application. Such door is latched in its closed position by 00 means of a latching handle structure I: in a wellknown manner. When the door it is retained in its closed position by the latching handle 32, such door cooperates with a suitable resilient sealing member or gasket 34 attached to the inner structure l2. preferably along all four sides. The 00- 5 operation of the. door M with the sealing member 36 thus prevents any moisture located within the dishwasher from leaking out around the door.

' However, a certain amount of moisture or liquid used within the dishwasher is bound to adhere to m the inner surface of the door. This moisture tends to run down the inner surface of such door if the door is opened. "In addition, moisture from supporting racks and dishes (not shown) collects upon the door, when pulled out over the open 35 (horimntal) door, in accordance with a familiar practice, and drains down into the trough it. If it were not for a suitable drip-trough, such as trough i6, located beneath the door, such moisture would run down over the front of the dish- 3g washer, tending to contaminate or mar its outer surface. The use of a drip-trough positioned beneath the door is well-known. However, in all known cases, such trough is partially located outside the dishwasher to facilitate in the cleaning 25 thereof. v

The drip-trough I6 embodying my invention is wholly located within the dishwasher so as to provide a more pleasing exterior of the dishwasher structure. Such drip-trough is supported within 30 the dishwasher structure beneath the door by means of suitable brackets 36 when in its normal position and by means of a tubing 38 when in an inoperative or cleansing position, as more fully hereinafter described.

The drip-trough I6 is an elongated channel-like member having its open side up and extending across the front of the dishwasher beneath the door it, The lower surface of the channel is tapers from each end to the mid-point thereof, at 40 which point the drain tube 38 is attached to permit any moisture or fluid collected by the trough 6 to pass therethrough.

The drain tube 38 is formed of a material such as copper and is rigidly attached at one end to the drip-trough l6 and flexibly attached at its other end to the inner tank 20. The tube 38 is attached to the tank 20 of the inner structure l2 preferably by means of a suitable fitting 40 and coupling 42. The moisture collected within the trough 16 thus passes through the tube and the fitting 40 to the tank 20 by means of a gravity flow. (See Fig. 2.)

A flexible collar 4| is fitted upon the end of the tube 38. Such collar is adapted to flt within the outer end of fitting 40 and to be drawn tightly thereagainst by means of coupling 42. The tube 38 is somewhat smaller than the opening within fitting 40 and couplin 42 so as to be free to flex or pivot with the collar ll. 00

The clips 48 are outwardly biasing members which are attached to the front panel IO, one at each end thereof. The clips 46 are adapted to frictionally cooperate with the vertical portions of the framing panel 49 of the supporting structure 28.

In addition, a plurality of substantially Z- shaped brackets 36 (two in this instance) are rigidly attached to the upper portion of the front panel I8, say by spot welding thereto. The brackets 36 having rearwardly extending horizontal portions and upwardly extending portions which are adapted to frictionally engage a member 48. The member 48 is an elongated strip extending across the front of the dishwasher and is attached to the supporting structure 26 and inner structure l2 thereof by means of a suitable bolt 50. The z-shaped brackets 36, in addition to engaging the member 48, support the driptrough it when in its operative or normal position. The front panel I8 is thus removably attached to the dishwasher structure by means of removable nut 5|, spring clips 46 and Z-shaped brackets 36, and may be readily removed therefrom as follows: The operator extends a hand under and in back of the lower portion of panel 49, removing the nut 5| from screw 45. The lower portion of panel i8 is then grasped and pulled outwardly a short distance. The spring clips 46 thus are freed from the vertical portions of framing panel 49. The panel I8 is then lowered down so that Z-shaped brackets 38 become free from the strip 48. A continued lowering and outward movement of the panel I8 thus removes the brackets 36 from the drip-trough I6.

With the front panel removed from the dishwasher structure, the drip-trough I6 is readily accessible. Such trough, due to the illustrated flexible attachment to and support by the inner structure l2 (see Fig. 3) may be moved downwardly and outwardly sufficiently to be readily dishwasher structure, the front panel 18 is moved into position so that the brackets 38 engage such trough from underneath and support it. Accordingly, with the trough l6 thus supported by the front panel l8 and brackets 36, it follows that, when such front panel I8 is returned to its normal position in front of the dishwasher, the driptrough is will also be returned to its normal operating position beneath the door.

While I have shown my invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a device having a door structure hingably mounted along one side, the combination of a drip-trough for the door structure mounted wholly within the confines of such device and below the door structure, means normally supporting the drip-trough removably attached to the device, to permit, upon such removal, ready access to the drip-trough to enable such trough to be easily cleaned, and a drain tube mounted within the device and attached to said drip-trough to support the same upon removal of said normal supporting means.

2. In a device having an outer frame structure and an inner tank and a door structure movably mounted on said frame structure, the combination of a drip-trough, and means comprising a mounted on said frame structure, the combine...

tion of a drip-trough, means comprising a flexible drain connection between said'trough and inner tank, and removable bracket means for supporting the trough wholly within the device and below said door structure during the normal operation of the device, said flexible drain connection supporting the trough upon removal of said bracket means when it is desired to clean such trough.

4. A device having an outer frame structure and an inner tank, a door structure for said frame structure and a drip-trough therebelow, a connection between said trough and said inner tank, and removable means disposed beneath said trough for supporting it in its normal position, said connection supporting said trough when said means is removed.

5. A device having an outer frame structure and an inner tank, a door structure for said frame structure and a drip-trough therebelow, a drainage connection between said trough and said inner tank, and removable means disposed beneath said trough for supporting it in its normal position, said drainage connection supporting said trough when said means is removed.

6. A device having an outer frame structure, an inner tank, a door for said frame structure and a drip-trough therebelow, a removable panel struc ture secured to the frame structure for supporting the trough, and a plurality of brackets rigidly attached to the panel for retaining the trough in its normal position beneath the door, said brackets also engaging the inner tank to retain the panel in its normal position when secured to the frame structure.

7. The combination with a tank having an opening in its side wall, of a drip-trough mounted below the opening, removable means to normally support the drip-trough in its operative position,

and a flexible tubular drain connection establlshing communication between the drip-trough and the tank, said connection also serving to support the drip-trough in a lowered position for cleaning when said removable means is not in place.

8. In a device having a door structure hingably 00 

